Jimmy Butler has requested a trade from the
Minnesota Timberwolves, league sources tell me and @JonKrawczynski.
Butler has given Minnesota a list of one-to-three teams with whom
he's open to signing extension, in anticipation of trade.

"Butler wants a trade to a team
that plans to sign him to a five-year, maximum contract that could
be worth $190 million in the summer, and his list could expand
based upon the Timberwolves' and rival teams' willingness to
negotiate a trade for him, league sources said.

For now, however, Timberwolves
president and coach Tom Thibodeau has no interest in trading Butler
and wants to try and return to the playoffs with him in the lineup,
league sources said."

Although he missed 23 regular season games in 2017-18, Butler
earned All-NBA Third Team honours for the second consecutive season
by posting averages of 22.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists
per game. Minnesota was 37-25 with Butler in the lineup and 10-13
without him.

In the 2018 post-season, the 29-year-old averaged a team-high
15.8 points along with 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists over five
games.

Minnesota, who is projected to finish eighth in the Western
Conference this upcoming season, will look to remain a playoff
contender with or without Butler.